Rumors of Toyota building a ski boat for entry into the U.S. market are flying. The rec.boats.waterski news group has some comments on the situation.

Toyota issued a press release May 8, 1997 announcing a national marine sales office in Orlando FL. and also talks about the new ski boat.

If you have any thoughts about Toyota's entry into the ski market or hear something about it, please drop us a line (click on the mailbox) and we will post your comments here.

We added 5 messages to the bottom of this page 8 June and one more June 9.

New Toyota Ski Boat?

From "Paul R. Orton Jr." orton@atlanta.com
Organization Internet Atlanta
Date Thu, 08 May 1997 20:33:15 -0700
Newsgroups rec.sport.waterski
Message-ID <33729AFB.7036@atlanta.com>
Just got off the phone with a company doing market research for Toyota.
It seems the rumors floating around are true. Toyota is checking the
market, feeling out the competion and their reputations.
What little I could gleam from the interview was that the boat will be
inboard and the engine will be a V-8 from the Lexus line of cars.
Would like to hear more about this if anyone has more info.
Have a nice day!
PaulRay

Re: New Toyota Ski Boat?

From WhiteTornado@mindspring.com
Organization MindSpring Enterprises
Date Mon, 12 May 1997 01:35:24 GMT
Newsgroups rec.sport.waterski
Message-ID <337673ad.22384538@news.mindspring.com>
References 1
There was a picture of the boat in this months issue of Boating mag.
It was a stern drive unit with the dual counter-roating props.

RBBI comment - we have posted a copy of the article mentioned above. "Toyota-Thon" Boating Magazine May 1997 talks of the ski boat and has photos of the big boat and drives.

Subject: Re: New Toyota Skiboat

Date: Fri, 30 May 1997 18:12:48 GMT
From: Mark Shillingburg
Newsgroups: rec.sport.waterski
I'm not sure that a Japanese entry into the Skiboat industry
(especially inboards) is sucha good thing. If they hold true
to form they will come in with a very inexpensive model to grab
market share which will force American companies to compete
pricewise. In doing so the American companies will have to
cost reduce their maufacturing, which means lower quality in
the long run. Then they will claim higher reliability and raise
their prices and the US companies (now selling product inferior
to what it once was) will follow suite. So we the consumers
eventually end up paying the same high price for products of
significantly lesser quality.
The auto industry is a good example. If it wasn't for techology
( computers, EFI, composites) we would be driving really crappy cars.

Subject: Re: New Toyota Skiboat

Date: 30 May 1997 22:40:27 GMT
From: Barefootr
Newsgroups: rec.sport.waterski
---The auto industry is a good example. If it wasn't for techology
( computers, EFI, composites) we would be driving really crappy cars. ---
Now first, I think we should all buy products made in the USA first, and
support our own economy. (But then, I also think we should stop sending
money to rebuild foreign countries too)
So second...
Would we have the technology today if no one forced us to stay ahead?
Would we still be paying more for the same product, because no one
wanted to create more effienent methods of production?
Business needs competition. It breeds better products, and better
economies. Should the US mfg's stay ahead? Sure, if they're good. Will
they?....who knows. Let's make a better mousetrap....and use our time
wisely. Be productive at your job so the company prospers, and others can
be productive in their jobs. Use your mind.
Bare. :)

Subject: Re: New Toyota Skiboat(waterskis)

Date: 1 Jun 1997 05:26:44 GMT
From: EFW5414
Newsgroups: rec.sport.waterski
just imagine how we will all be sking when the japs. start building &
engineering waterskis ( yeah,I just ran 41' again man,this sport is
boring)I can see it now computer controlled wings and fins that change
automatically depending on the waters viscosity.forget the boats I want to
see them make skis. maybe they could call it the ''ZERO''and the boat they
could call the ''Supra''

Subject: Re: New Toyota Skiboat(waterskis)

date: Tue, 03 Jun 1997 10:56:39 +0200
From: Keith Whittingham
Newsgroups: rec.sport.waterski
[...blah...]
> engineering waterskis ( yeah,I just ran 41' again man,this sport is
> boring)I can see it now computer controlled wings and fins that change
> automatically depending on the waters viscosity.forget the boats I want to
[...blah...]
It's interesting to note that most japanese cars outside north
america are sold *without* automatic transmission...
Keith...

Subject: Re: New Toyota Skiboat(waterskis)

Date: Sun, 08 Jun 1997 16:33:22 -0400
From: Kevin Cook
Newsgroups: rec.sport.waterski
Calsider wrote:
>
> Lexus (Toyota) raised the bar for all car companies, and forced Mercedes
> to re-think their program, henceforth the new "E" series. The Nautique
> and other ski boats are way overpriced - If Toyota comes out with a
> great boat, and you can bet it will be, at a lower price, great ! If I
> can buy a new Toyota boat and it is as good as my Sport Nautique for a
> lower price, I'll be the first in line.
I doubt anything Toyota will ever make will be offered at a low price.
Good quality is the norm for Toyota but lower price is not in their
vocabulary. Can't wait to see it anyway.

Subject: Re: New Toyota Skiboat(waterskis)

Date: Mon, 09 Jun 1997 10:59:39 -0700
From: jtrotte@ibm.net
Newsgroups: rec.sport.waterski
Zoomifier wrote:
>
> You wrote: The Nautique
> and other ski boats are way overpriced - If Toyota comes out with a
> great boat, and you can bet it will be, at a lower price, great ! If I
> can buy a new Toyota boat and it is as good as my Sport Nautique for a
> lower price, I'll be the first in line.
>
> What do feel is "fair price" for a new Sport Nautique? (I figure they are
> around 28 - 29K new)
It will probably be as low priced as their Lexus Land Cruiser.